Locked Out of Your House? What to Do, Step by Step

1. Make sure you are safe

If it is late, cold or you feel unsafe, go somewhere warm and well lit. If a child, a pet or anyone in danger is locked inside a home or a car, call 911 first.

2. Check every door and window you can reach

A back door, a side door or the door from the garage may be unlocked. Do not climb in through a window if it means a fall or a broken pane.

3. Think about who has a spare

A roommate, a family member, a neighbor or your landlord or building super may have a key.

4. Do not force the door

Kicking the door, prying the frame or drilling the lock yourself usually turns a simple lockout into a repair bill.

5. Call a local locksmith

Tell the locksmith where you are, what kind of door and lock it is, and whether the deadbolt is locked or only the knob. Have ID ready. A real locksmith will ask for proof that you live there.

6. If your keys were lost or stolen

Opening the door does not solve the bigger problem. Whoever has your keys may be able to get in. Ask about rekeying the locks so the old keys stop working.

Locked out in Montclair or nearby?

We work 24 hours a day in Montclair, Bloomfield, West Orange, Cedar Grove, Verona and Roseland. Call (973) 561-0727 or see our lockout service.